Bessie Lavon Uitermarkt

Bessie Lavon Uitermarkt, daughter of Frank Walter and Beulah Lee (De Heer) Pearson, was born November 2, 1933, in Knoxville, Iowa. She grew up on a farm north of Knoxville and attended a country school near her home. She initially worked at the Overall Factory in Knoxville. Bess was a homemaker for many years; when she returned to work, she served as a nurse’s aide and a ward clerk for over 20 years at Mahaska County Hospital.

Bess Married John McDonald; a daughter was born to that union. They later divorced. She married Ruby E. Smith on February 24, 1968, in Oskaloosa; they were married for 23 years until his death on March 18, 1991. January 16, 1999, she married Marvin Uitermarkt at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa. Bess enjoyed working and remained friends with many of her co-workers; her true source of joy was spending time with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. Bess was a life member of the American Legion and the V.F.W. and was always ready and willing to serve wherever she was needed.

Bess passed away Friday, May 30th, 2025, under hospice care at Vicki’s home at the age of 91 years, 6 months, and 28 days.

Her family includes her daughter, Vicki (Jim) Vanderlinden of Oskaloosa; her granddaughter, Missy (Jarrod) Dupre of Oskaloosa; and great-granddaughter, Amanda Veldhuizen; three brothers: Elmer “Jipe” Pearson of pella, Ned (Jan) Pearson of Knoxville, Lyle (Cindy) Pearson of Pella; and two sisters: Sue Surber of Des Moines, and Lyla (George) Scales of Peoria, AZ. Marvin’s children also survived Bess: Brian (Christi) Uitermarkt of Riverside, Pamela (Lynn) Morrison of North English, and Teresa (Brian) Hagen of Blairstown, as well as his grandchildren, Ryan (Heather) Uitermarkt, Tanner (Jessica) Morrison, Sabrina (Nick) Cox, Shaun (Nicole) Dietze, Jesse (Jennie Dietze, Sarah Dietze; and a dear and special sister-in-law, Doris (Jonathan) Nibbelink of Peoria, Iowa. Bess Leaves behind many honorary children and grandchildren who will miss her deeply.

In addition to her parents, Bess was preceded in death by both of her husbands, Ruby and Marvin; a grandson, Johnny McCombs; three brothers, Frank, Scott, and Pete; two sisters, Wilma Hollingshead and Lola Cordle; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Person; and a brother-in-law, Doug Surber.